Wednesday, December 5, 2007

I just love to discover new artists on etsy! It's just so inspiring. I came across this lovely dish by Noelle Horsfield this morning as I wait to go to my Dr. (nasty sore throat). I am drawn to work with lots of layers and details, yummy patterns. You can find more of Noelles Pretty Pots in her etsy shop.

So Turkey's great and all but what I really crave during the Holiday is some good James Bond marathon and mom's famous side dishes. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday I just wanna say, "thanks mom, your the greatest and you taught me everything I know!" AND I'm gonna share these great recipes with you!The best cranberry sauce:1 big box of red jello2 cans of whole cranberry sauce (almost forgot this, this year! Wouldn't my face be red!)1 can of pineapple tidbits1 can of mandarin orange slicesabout 1 cup of chopped walnuts (as much as you like)Make the jello according to the instructions but only add half the total liquid. This really just means omit the cold water part. Add the cranberry sauce. Drain the canned fruit and add it with the walnuts. Stir and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Mash the sweet potatoes in a bowl using the OJ as if it were the milk in regular mashed potatoes. Don't make them too wet though cause now your gonna add the can of pineapple and that will add more liquid. Mix in the seasoning to taste. This is when I put it in the fridge until right before dinner, then take it out, spoon into a pie tray and heat until hot in the center. Top the whole thing with mini marshmallows and bake until they turn all brown and gooey.

Notice how these recipies are super healthy? Turkey day doesn't have to be fattening! Especially since you know your gonna be eating leftovers all week:)

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Let it snow let it snow let it snow! White pottery that is. What a beautiful way to dress up your home, snow white pots all around. I especially like these pieces from Judi Tavill. She is a fellow etsy mud team member and an east coaster too. Be sure to check out more of her work on etsy, they would make stunning holiday treats!

Friday, November 9, 2007

Love the work of this artist, Rae Dunn. She just opened her etsy shop and our work is actually next to each other in Red Tree. I really like the stark compositions and the handmade quality. I'm also a fan of the writing stampde into the clay, gee I wonder why. She makes 2 lines of work, one is her handmade stuff which she sells on etsy and one is work she has manufactued and sells in shops all over. Way cool. Sooo who's gonna manufacture my work to sell all over?

Sunday, November 4, 2007

New work has been posted in my etsy shop today! Go check out these new leaf dishes, I think they would look great grouped on the Thanksgiving table each holding a tealight. Hopefully I will be listing more as the week goes on. Don't forget when you buy from my shop this week you will be entered into a raffle for a FREE ornament:)

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Buy from my shop this week and be entered into a raffle to pick up some beautiful muddy ornaments. I put my dove ornament up for grabs. Tomorrow I will be restocking the shop with some new work fresh from the kiln!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

I really like this image by etsy artist pleasebestill. The colors go so well with my style! In my own studio I have been into shades of blues and greens with a pop of red somewhere in the piece. I really like the balance in this one. I also like how she doesn't really have a face...mysterious.

Monday, October 22, 2007

This post is for my hubby, Michael. Not only is he a huge fan of the squid, this one happens to decorate one of his favorite spots in our home. I am seriously thinking about getting him one for Christmas. You can get your own at Vital on etsy.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

So I was feeling guilty about only posting my own work recently. Just being lazy! So here is a post about the best soap ever! I had hearted this one a while back and just happened upon it the other day as I was looking for something elese. This soap makes me smile as soon as I look at it! She has some really creative ideas! I love the rice krispie treats and also the gummie bears! Check out her etsy shop for more goodcleanfun!

Ok. I'm cheating today. I didn't get to post because we were out all night judging the applicants for the Holiday Heap show. Oh. my. goodness. I never knew how much work went into this! Over 100 applicants for 42 spots and boy was it tough competition! We had to take out some really great artists just because of size restrictions. So today I am posting late and just giving another peek at some new work. Hopefully I will have some more new stuff for you in a couple of weeks!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Ok. As soon as the weather starts to get cooler I have a craving for my favorite casserole dish. It's so easy and I'm making it tonight! You'll need...1 package of turkey/ chicken sausage removed from casing (I use sweet italian turkey), 1 package (2 cups) shitake mushrooms (I throw in some baby bellas also since I love mushrooms!), 1 onion chopped, 1 cup of rice (any grain works well, I like quinoa), 2 cups chicken broth, parmesan cheese and ground pepper to taste.

Heat a skillet over meduim high and add sausage, onion and mushrooms, breaking up the sausage with a spoon or fork. Cook until sausage is brown and mushrooms and onion are tender. Add the rice, stirring to coat and the broth. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer about 20 min. or until the broth has evapotated. Stir in cheese and pepper to taste.

I serve this with a salad of field greens, dried cranberries, walnuts, goat cheese and our favorite dressing, Annies Gingerly Vinagrette.Finish it off with a cramel apple for dessert!! Hooray Fall!

Monday, October 1, 2007

I am already starting to work on Holiday stuff can you believe it? I guess I'm thinking ahead, trying to get ready for the season of shows soon to come. I put out these ornaments yesterday at the Crafty Bastards Show, which totally rocked, and I just about sold out of the dove. Only one left! Good thing I have many more waiting for me to finish up in the studio! I am also thinking about turning some into pendants, I love chunky necklaces!

Friday, September 28, 2007

I just found this etsy potter, Kristen Pavelka, and I am in love with her work. She has a fantastic pallet and the patterns are awesome. I really like the red earthenware next to the candy colored glazes. She is able to get playful sophistication. I really love this work! Read her profile too, we have a lot of the same inspirations. Check out more of her work KristinPavelka.etsy.com

Thursday, September 27, 2007

I saw this print today by margin and it reminded me of my post from yesterday. My pink cat and I are currently watching the new CSI while I type this. I did buy that print yesterday...couldn't help myself. I'm trying to pass the time while I wait for my kiln to fire tonight. It will be an even longer wait tomorrow while I have to let it cool down. Oh the tormented life of the potter.....so much patience required.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

This is me right now, red hair and cowgirl boots! Just had my hair done and it really does look like this right now. I'm totally in love with it. The funny thing is, my mom came to my place to do it and a little got on my cat, Mexi! Now he has a pink belly instead of a white one. Anyway, this is an awesome print by menta. You should check out her shop and all the great prints. Funny, she is from Mexico City and that's what my now redhead cat is named for.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

I have been on the search for new throw pillows for my house for about 6 months now. The IKEA ones we bought when we moved it are just not cutting it anymore. I found this shop on etsy and I just love their pillows. They would look fabulous in every room of my house! Check out the shop www.joom.etsy and pick out some pillows for your house...or mine if your so inclined.

Monday, September 24, 2007

So...when I started this blog I thought it would be about house and home, food, my work...you know that kinda stuff. Now looking back over my posts I have been posting a lot of jewelry! I love jewelry as much as the next gal but I think I need to refocus, or do I? This ring has houses ON it, that counts as house and home right?? I do love the house on the hill, as I'm sure you know from my personal work! Anyway, this lovely anthropology ring is by Copperheart Designs. What nice work! It's inspiring me to work on some wall stickers....what are wall stickers you ask? Well, you'll just have to stay tuned to find out! But if you really want a clue, they are ceramic art tiles that just stick right to the wall and can be easily changed and rearranged to suit your mood! Ok, kind of a big hint but still...you have to wait to see them:)

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Fall is my favorite time of year if I haven't mentioned this already! I found this beautiful ceramic pendant in the Etsy showcase this morning that has the perfect fall colors in it. I just love the circle pattern by smaddockdesigns, what a lovely necklace to wear on the first days of Autumn. I love finding great ceramic work so unexpectedly.

Friday, September 21, 2007

This Friday I am feeling in a very fall mood. I was looking at pictures of fall leaves and thinking of fall lessons to do with my kids...autumn is by far my most favorite season. If only winter didn't have to follow! Oh well, I can always look foward to snow days I guess. Here are some really cute pumpkin earings that would be perfect to celebrate to upcoming season! I found them at star willow studio on etsy. What great work from that shop! I also love her fleur de lis earings, hummm, I wonder why?

Thursday, September 20, 2007

We are finally home from the very long drive, Chicago to Baltimore, and back to work in the studio. We had a great time and met lots of talented and super nice people. Thanks to all who came to see us and made our weekend a sucess! We think it was worth the drive:)

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Can't go to a gigantic craft show and not come home with some super cool stuff! Here is a shadow puppet I bought from owlyshadowpuppets this weekend. I plan on using it to base a lesson from with my little students! How very cool.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Today I am waking up in Chicago getting ready for the Renegade show. It was a 13 hour drive, we almost ran out of gas in nowhere Illinois and we forgot the walls to our tent but all in all it was a pretty good trip.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Today I am blogging shameless self promotion since we are supposed to be driving to Chicago um, now, for the Renegade craft show but here I am on the computer like always! I've been making these little hands for some time now. They are great to hold rings or tea bags after they have been seeping...so many uses. I have quite a few around the house since I keep everything I deam un-sellable. I have made some for my hubby also but I tend to steal his! If you would like a little hand dish please visit my etsy shop, and if you come up with a good use for one drop me a line and let me know!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

For those of you who know me, I had a brief period of time before I set up my kiln and ceramic studio where I was painting and showing in some of the shops around Baltimore. I was painting trees and including quotes lifted from vintage romance novels. I was just surfing around some different blogs and came across this lovely artist, CortneyP. Her paintings made me nostalgic for my past work. Her work is totally different from mine but shares some of the same elements. And....she's from Maryland! Weird. I love her work so maybe instead of dragging out my painting supplies (hubby turned my drawing table into his silk screening press) I'll just visit her etsy shop;)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Tonight I am glazing these new plates hopefully to take with me to Chicago this weekend. Pray to the kiln gods for me! I rushed them a little and already broke two. I can't wait to see them finished....finally some plates.

So after peeling the loads of wallpaper off the walls in our home I vowed never to hang wallpaper for as long as I live for fear of having to one day remove it. It's sooo much easier to paint! However, I might change my mind after seeing these awesome wall decals listed on the front page of etsy today. They sold already but I hope more go up. These would really spruce up some dead wall space in my house. Or there are even more great wall decals at oneup designs.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Ok. Today I need something to make me happy and this print is just the thing. I was browsing my favorites on etsy and came across this adorable shop by Yellena. I just love the details she includes in her work and all the juicy colors. All those lines just make me drool! I know, it's weird to be so into patterns! Today I am opening a new bisque kiln and I'm super excited to see how all the dishes came out! Hopefully nothing broke since I rushed this firing. I am hoping to have some new work for Chicago this weekend.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Here is a fabulous necklace from my friend Annie of Imogene. She will be showcasing her work as well as some great work from other artists in Chicago this weekend. I just love her cut out necklaces! Such great things to buy at Renegade, I hope I can actually make some money too!p.s. Annie and Steve are members of the Charm City Craft Mafia along with yours truly!

Here is a sneak peek at some pendants I will have at the upcoming Renegade Craft Show in Chicago next weekend! If your in the area stop by and check it out! Lots of craft mafia folk will be there also.I also have a kiln full of plates that I'm hoping to bring...if they turn out! Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well tonight. I think I'm rushing a few of them but hopefully they will dry out in the preheat.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

I am at war with the crickets. They have been taking over my studio and today I fought back. One of them was just sitting on a shelf full of plates waiting to be painted staring at me. I sprayed the basement and the perimeter of the house today. We had been coexisting just fine until they started to eat each other and grew to the size of small rodents. I'm not exaggerating. They pop and squirt when squished which you can only do with a phone book because of their massive size! So I am posting this platter by fellow etsy ceramic artist CeramicaBotanica today. She has an appreciation for the noisy giant creatures that I do not but I still think her work is awesome!

Michael just found out that his book is going NATIONAL!! Yeah for him! In honor of his achievement I watched 3 comic movies today while working in the studio. I started with Spiderman then moved to X-Men United and finished with Batman Begins. I'm feeling very geeky right now.

This is my first post and I'm super excited! I am hoping to write about my adventures in clay and other crafty people who I admire. I might even throw in a recipie from time to time 'cause that's just the kinda girl I am!

This mug is fresh from the kiln! I'm really into short round mugs right now. They are so nice to hold!